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Marriott Frenchman's Reef location and resort amenities for destination wedding?

Marriott Frenchman's Reef location and resort amenities for destination wedding?

Old Jul 14th, 2003, 03:28 PM
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honeymooner14
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Marriott Frenchman's Reef location and resort amenities for destination wedding?

I am getting married next August in St. Thomas, and am thinking of staying at the Marriott Frenchman's Reef. My fiance and I will be honeymooning on a different island, so we are not looking for luxury on St. Thomas, just a fun place to stay. We will also have a small group of family and friends flying in. Is this a good hotel, with a nice pool area and beach, that has different options price-wise? We definitely want to go to St. John's for the day. Is this hotel a good location for that, and also for getting into town to shop, party, and eat? Thanks!
 
Old Jul 15th, 2003, 09:40 AM
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Frenchman's Reef has an outstanding outdoor wedding gazebo, located high on a cliff with a sensational waterview. It should make for outstanding pictures. It has a lovely pool with a swim-up bar.

My preference would be to be married there and stay in the adjoining Marriott
Morningstar if it is open in August. Beachside, also with its own pool it is lovely, private, quiet, and guests may use the facilities of both resorts.

Marriott is close enough to Charlotte Amalie for easy access, but far enough away to escape the hustle and bustle. Frenchman's Reef has its own private water taxi which makes for a lovely ride to the downtown shopping district.

Best way to St. John is to taxi to the public ferry to Cruz Bay and rent a jeep there. Jeep rentals are not far from the dock.

Morningstar is currently offering just steps away from the beach gardenview rooms for $181/night with breakfast for two included. I like it even better than the Ritz.

Best wishes to you both. It should make for a wonderful beginning to your new life together.

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Old Jul 15th, 2003, 11:59 AM
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honeymooner14
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Thanks for your information! I know that MorningStar and Frenchman's share the same property and amenities, but what are the differences in rooms? Has anyone stayed in both and could let me know what they are each like? What are their decors, space, views like? I know MorningStar is right on the beach, but are its rooms better than Frenchmans?
 
Old Jul 15th, 2003, 04:11 PM
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I have not stayed at Frenchman's Reef; however the rooms at Morningstar are lovely and first rate. I have seen both positive and negative posts on Frenchman's reef, but again, had no personal experience there. Morningstar is a collection of three story buildings with a distinct islandy feel, while the Reef is a huge hotel. It would be your personal preference. Mine is always Morningstar. If it were not available, I would probably choose the Ritz.
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Old Jul 16th, 2003, 06:57 AM
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Honeymooner14,
I married at the Frenchman's Reef this past november with 20 family and friends. I did the Weddings in Paradise's top package they offered with a reception dinner. Please heed my words. DO NOT CHOOSE THE MARRIOTT Frenchman's Reef and Morningstar for a destination wedding. The hotel is nice but their main concern is a corperate client or event not your small wedding. We learned this the hard way. Not to mention service was terrible, my guests rooms were ant infested with ants, broken air conditioners, no one was located near eachother in the hotel and As Bride and Groom we were given a suite that I booked a year in advance that faced the parking lot. I was the bride!!! When I complained about those things mentioned above I was told by the Hotel Manager directly- " Darg Gone It -That is too bad that you are upset but we are completely booked with a convention and you will have to live with your room. As for our guests, One couple was moved to the adjacent property at the morning Star and another couple was sent to another hotel because they were booked due to a convention. So my friends who paid ggod money to stay at the marriott could either live with no AC or be moved to another hotel. I was Livid!! Please if you book a wedding in St thomas do it at the Ritz where you are their 1st and only priority. We attended a friends wedding there and it was Spectacular. We are celebrating our 1st anniversary at the Ritz this September. If you have any other concerns PLEASE email me directly at [email protected]. DO NOT GET MARRIED AT WEDDINGS FROM HELL AT THE MARRIOTT FRENCHMAN"S REEF. You will be gravely disappointed for your money. Believe me we learned the hard way. Only good thing was the Man you performed the ceremony, the photographer I chose and Video guy I got off the internet! Any referrels let me know. Good Luck
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Old Jul 16th, 2003, 12:09 PM
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honeymooner14
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Thank you so much for your response. I am so sorry that you had such a terrible experience Hopefully your first anniversary at the Ritz will be nothing but good memories.

However, I was not thinking about having my wedding AT the Marriott. I just thought it wouls be a good, fun place for everyone to stay while we are down there. I had read someone else who had a bad experience getting married there, so I was planning on getting married elsewhere, like the beach. I just needed to know if the Marriott would be a good place to have a group of people stay. Do you think so or not?
And what are the rooms there like compared to MorningStar?
 
Old Jul 16th, 2003, 07:46 PM
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The Marriott Frenchman's Reef is a nice resort- that , yes, gets it's share of conventions--it is a large hotel...

For the most part, you can request an oceanfront room or oceanview room..the worst rooms ARE the gardenview( which is really THE PARKING LOT)..ON our first visit to this hotel, we DID get the parking lot and complained and then got moved to a room overlooking the sea and the city...
On our second visit, we had a total oceanfront room which overlooked the POOL and the OCEAN--this is WHERE you want to request..The ROOMS are large..
The restaurant overlooking the pool ( which we went to for lunch) was horrendously overpriced--you would do better going into town...Best thing of this resort is the pool area has a breathtaking view of the harbor and the ocean and is on a cliff...and it's the nicest LARGE hotel CLOSE to town....If your party has rental cars, you can scoot into town for some fabulous dinners--or explore the island for the great beaches...etc...

Morningstar Beach Resort (of which Frenchman's Reef uses their beach) is GREAT-think like a condo--there are 4 to a quadiplex- 2 face the gardens and 2 face the Ocean...there are 2 up and 2 down...If I stayed at Morningstar, I would want a DOWNSTAIRS OCEANFRONT WALK OUT room...YOU will LOVE this place...It reeks of island feel and is super nice with 2 restaurants right down on the beach!
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Old Aug 8th, 2003, 10:16 AM
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Coffey???????
If you can could you please email me. I am staying at the Marriot In may 2004 and am celebrating my wedding honeymoon somewhere, I wanted to get some info from you. My travel agent wanted me to have the wedding at the Marriot also, but I am thinking St John, Thankyou Maryann [email protected]
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